Valve.



L. SENNETT.

VALVE.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 7, 19I5.

Patented Dec. 21, 1915.

i the supply of gas v mar s PATENT O F CE.

Valve, of which the following is a specifica tion.

This invention relates to a valve especially designed for use inconnection with gas supply systems, one of the objects of the inventionbeing to provide a valve which will close automatically when relieved ofthe pressure of gas or other fluid thereagainst and which will be lockedin closed position sothat the same cannot be opened until a key or otherdevice provided for that purposeis utilized.

There are times when the supplyof illuminating gas to residences and thelike is cut ofi by accident or intent and, unless the consumers of thegas are notified, the cutting off of the supply will result in theextinguishing of lights'with the result that, when is restored, the gaswill be free to escape from the open fixtures, with danger ofasphyxiating persons unaware of the occurrence.

One of the objects of the present invention is to provide a valvelocated between the'main and the meter in a structure and which valve isheld open by pressurebut is adapted, when relieved of pressure, to closeautomatically and to be locked in such position so that when thepressureis restored there will be no danger of gas escaping through openfixtures.

With the foregoing and other objects in view which will appear as thedescription proceeds, the invention resides in the combination andarrangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafterdescribed and claimed, it being understood that changes in the preciseembodiment of the invention herein disclosed, can be made within thescope of what is claimed, without departing from the spirit of theinvention.

In the accompanying drawings the preferred form of the invention hasbeen shown.

In said drawings: Figure 1 is a vertical longitudinal section throughthe valve casing and showingthe valve mechanism therein in elevation,the valve being shown in open position. Fig, 2 is a view similar to Fig.1 and showing the valve locked in closed position. Fig. 3 is anelevation of VALVE.

Specification of Lettersratent.

Application filed April 7,1915.

. end portion of LEONIDAS SENNETT, or RUSS-ELL, KENTUCKY, nssienoit oroNE-HAL ro JAMES I RICE, O RICHMOND, VIRGINIA.

' Parades. 21.1915. S T a1No. ,8 I

the residence or other structure to be supplied. This casing 1 ispreferably interiorly screw threaded at its ends, as shown at 2, one endportion. of the casing receiving a disk 3 having a series of openings 4,this disk constituting a valve seat. The disk is likewise provided witha small central guide opening 5 in which is slidably mounted one endportion of a valve stem 6.v The other the valve stem is slidablym'cuntedin a spider 7 which is in engagement with the other threaded endof the casing. A valve 8 is fixedly connected to the stem 6 and may beof'any preferred construction, this valve being adapted, when pressedagainst the seat 3, to close the openings 4. A collar 9 is secured tothe stem 6 and a spring 10 is mounted on the stem and bears at one endagainst the collar and at its other end against the spider, this springoperating to hold the valve 8 pressed toward its seat. 1

" Pivotally mounted upon the spider 7 is a latch lever 11 having a longlocking arm 12 and a short arm 13, said short arm having a dependingfinger 14 provided with an eye 15. Arm 12 is so proportioned that whenthe valve 8 is pressed against its seat, said arm will fit snugly backof the valve and hold it against movement away from the seat, as shownin Fig. 2. The arm 13'and its finger 14 are so proportioned that whenarm 12 is lifted out of engagement with the valve 8, the said finger 14will be brought to position back of the stem 6 where the eye 15 will becapableof receiving one end of the stem 6, as shown in Fig. 1.

It is to be understood that lever 11 can be actuated in any preferredmanner. For example, a key 16 may be mounted for rotation in the wall ofeasing 1, this key being provided, at its inner end, with a crank arm 17overhanging the arm 13 of lever 11 and being provided at its outer endwith a finger piece 18 of any preferred construction.

It is to be understood that the pressure of gas flowing from the main inthe direction of the arrow in Fig. 1 will tend to push the one end ofthe valve casing. Fig. 15a

valve 8 ofi'of its state. By rotain'g'the key 16 so as to force thecrank arm 17 downwardlyon the-arm 13, the long locking arm 12 of lever11 can be lifted -ont-of-position back of the valve 8 and the finger 14can be lowered into position across the path of the stem .6. As soon asvalve 8 is released in this manner,- the pressure of the gasthereagainst will force it away fIOIH iEhGSGZLi 3 andagainst the actionof spring 10, thus thrust- ,ing one end of stem '6 into the ey'e15 andlooking the lever 11 in set position, as shown substantially in thepositions shown in Fig. 1. If, however, the pressure in the, main shouldfall below a predetermined 'degree,,as

when the supplyof gas is cut off, the spring 10 iwouldthrust the valve 8against its seat .3', -thus withdrawing the stem'6-from theeye 15 andcausing the arm 12 to gravitate to position back of the valve .8 whereit will lockthe "valve against the. seat 3. Conse- .-quently should thepressure of gas within themain be restored, the passage of the gasthroughthe casing 1 would be prevented untilthe key 16 should beactuated manually to shift lever 11 and release valve 8 in the mannerhereinbefore described. Obvioufsl-y by the use of a valve such as hereindescribed, the danger of asphyxiation due totthe accidental shutting OEand restoring of the gas supply, Willbe eliminated.

While the valve herein described is especially useful in connection withgas sup- -ply. systems, it is to be understood that it can "also be usedwherever fluids of'an'y kind are supplied under pressure.

'What is claimed is Y I 1.- Acasing having a passage therethrough andwith a valve seat intermediate the passage, a valve engaging said seatand adapted tobe held open by pressure through the pas sage, yieldingmeans for automatically bits.-

" lng the'valve againstits seat when relieved of pressure, a valve stem,a lever engaged by the stem when the valve is open and held thereby outof engagement with the valve, said stem being movable o-utof engagementwith the lever when the valve is closed to release the lever, saidlever, when released, constltnting means for engaging the valve to holdit on 1ts seat.

2. The combination with a casing, and a valve seat therein, of a valve,astem movable therewith, means mounted on the stem for holding thevalvev normally pressed againts its seat, said valve being adapted toopen under the ,action of pressure therev against, a locking :lever'it'ulcrumed within the casing, an eye movabletherewith and adapted tobe engaged by .the stem when the lever is in set position and the valveis open, andmeans movably mounted in the casing for engagingthe lever toshift it. toset position and release the valve. i

In testimonythat I claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto a'flixedmy signature in the presence of two witnesses. V NIDAS EN ET Witnessesz7 v w J. A. CAsTER, J. O. DARBY.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe .Comn issionerof Patents,

' a Washington, I). Q.

